Feed-water-heating system for locomotives



July 15, 1924. 1501,193

J. R. SHANNON FEED WATER HEATING SYSTEM FOR LOCOMOTIVES Filed June 14 1922 2 Sheet5-5het 1 jgl.

JuEy 15 1924.

J. R. SHANNON FEED WATER HEATING SYSTEM FOR LOCOMOTIVES Filed June 14 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 STE/7M END awue/wlioz LJnhn. R. Ehannun Patented July 15, 1924.

UNlTED STATES JOHN R. SHANNON, OF LOWELL, ARIZONA.

FEED-.WATER-HEATING SYSTEM FOR LOCOMOTIVES.

Application filed June 14, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN R. SHANNON,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Lowell, in the county of Cochise. and State of Ariaona, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feed-\Vater Heating Systems for Locomotives, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to feed water heating systems for locomotives.

An important object of the invention is to provide a system of this character whereby the heat of the exhaust steam may be utilized for heating the feed water.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for con'ipressing the exhaust steam and injecting the same into the feed water system.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a system of this character which is simple in construction and arrangement, which may be readily installed in locomotives as at present constructed, and which is a general improvement in the art.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a heating device of this character receiving water from the boiler of the locomotive. and returning the same to the boiler and subjecting the same during its passage through the heater to the action of the exhaust vapors from the cylinders of the enine.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a compressor for injecting the exhaust steam from the cylinders of the engine into the feed water heater which auto.- matically becomes operative when steam' is applied to the cylinders of the locomotive and which becomes inoperative when the locomotive vis drifting or at rest thereby avoiding the waste of steam and preventing the formation of vacuum in the cylinders of the locomotive.

These and other objects I attain by the construction and arrangementshown in the accompanying drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation partially in section showing the smoke box and forward end of the boiler of the locomotive;

Serial No. 568,207.

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken through a feed water heating coil constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 3 is a front elevation partially diagrammatic showing the manner of connecting the exhaust steam injector;

Figure 4: is a sectional view taken through a control valve for the compressor; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken through the water entrance of the coil showing the manner of permitting the entrance of both boiler water and injector water to the coil.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral designates the smoke box of a locomotive, 11 the boiler, 12 the cylinders of the locomotive and 13 the steam chests of the cylinders. The numeral 14 designates the live steam pipes leading to the steam chests 13, and 15 desig- .nates the exhausts from the steam chests.

The numeral 16 indicates a steam operated pressure pump of any desired construction, the suction of which is connected by conduits 17 with the exhausts 15 from the steam chests 13, the numeral 18 designating the pump end of the pressure pump. The discharge of the pump end 18 is connected by conduits 19 with an oil separator 20 and from the oil separator through a pipe 21 having therein a check valve 22 with a coil 23 arranged within the smoke box 10 to be heated by the front end smoke box gases.

The coil 23 preferably embodies intake and discharge headers 24. and 25, the pipe 21 from the pump leading into the lower end of the intake header 24. Into the lower end of this intake header preferably lead pipes 26 with the outer ends of which communicate pipes 21 leading from the boiler, a check Valve 28 being provided at the connection 29 of the pipes opening from the boiler toward the coil. With the pipes 26 between the connection 29 and the header 24 communicates an injector pipe line 30 leading from an injector 31. It will be noted that when the injector is operated the check valve 28 will be seated against the action of the boiler pressure preventing backing up of the injected water into the boiler. The discharge header 25 has communicating therewith pipes 32 having a check valve connection with pipes 33 leading to the boiler, the check valves 3a of the connection opening toward the boiler. Supplemental headers 35 are provided connected with the headers 24: and 25 by means of arcuate coil pipes 36 which are independently removable in order that a leaky pipe may be readily removed from the coil. The headers 24, and are preferably arranged in concentered relation and a single bank of the connecting pipes 36 employed in order that the connections of these pipes may be readily accessible and the entire surface thereof exposed to the heat of the front end of the smoke box.

In order to provide for operation of the pressure pump 16 upon admission of steam to the cylinders 12, I provide a valve organization 37, such as shown in Figure 4 in the open position. This valve organization comprises a head 38 having a threaded tubular extension 39 adapted for engageinent in asteam pipe 14:. The bore of the extension 39 is in communication by means of a port 40 with the interior of a cylinder 41 of which the head 38 forms one end. This cylinder is provided with an outlet 42 connected by a pipe 13 with the steam inlet of the steam end 44: of the pressure pump 16. The outlet 42 of the cylinder 41 is normally closed by means of a slide valve 45 which is preferably formed as an integral portion of a piston 46 sliding upon a fixed stem 47. Movement of the piston is opposed by a spring 48 surrounding the stem and adjustable as to tension through medium of an adjusting nut 49 disposed at the opposite end of the cylinder from that closed by the head 38. This end of the cylinder is preferably covered by a cap 50 preventing the entrance of dirt and the like.

It will be seen that when steam is admitted to the cylinders of the locomotive the steam passing through the port 40 will force the piston 46 backwardly against the action of the spring 48 uncovering the port 42 and permitting the steam to pass to the steam end of the pressure pump 16. The operation of the pump draws the exhaust steam from the exhaust channel of the chests and compresses the same, driving the compressed steam through the separator 20 to the coil 23 where it will mingle with the water of the coil imparting its heat to the same and being condensed and passing back to the boiler through pipe 33. It is pointed out that during injector action the check valves 28 and 22 will be closed preventing the passage of water to the pump and back to the boiler. As the water is heated, it passes upwardly through the coils finally passing out through pipes 32 to the boiler. Attention is directed to the fact that the withdrawal by the pump of the exhaust not only provides a heating medium for the feed water within the coil 23 but assists in re lieving back pressure upon the engine cylinders 12 and accordingly tends to increase the etliciency thereof.

It will be obvious that in emploving the system hereinbeforeset forth many changes are possible in the construction and arrangement of the various elements thereof and it accordingly do not limit myself to the specific structure of such elements or to the specific arrangement thereof except as hercinafter claimed. 4

I claim The. combination with a locomotive em bodying the'usual boiler, smoke box. cylinders and chests for the cylinders. of a fetal water heater disposed within the smoke box receiving water from and discharging water to the boiler, a steam pump connected with the intake end of the feed water heater. a connection between the intake end of the pump and the exhaust channel of the steam chest. and a steam supply for the steam end of said pump including a connection he tween the live steam line to the chest and the pump emlaulying a valve opening to permit passage of the steam from the steam line to the pump at a predetermined pr s sure within the steam line.

In testimony whereof i hereunto ailix m signature. 3

JUHN R. t ll KNOW 

